CPT code 50972: Ureteroscopy, with catheter insertion2026 Medicare rate & RVUs in Delaware

Reports endoscopic examination of the ureter through a ureterostomy when the urologist also inserts a ureteral catheter.

CMS RVU26DEffective Oct 1, 2026One payment locality

In Delaware, Medicare pays $311.75 for 50972 in a facility. There’s no office rate.

Not available in this settingOffice (non-facility)
$311.75Hospital or facility

Check a contract rate as a % of Medicare · 50972 nationwide

Medicare allowed amount for participating (non-QP) physicians, before deductible, coinsurance and claim adjustments. Not a patient’s bill or a hospital charge.

We’ll open 50972 for the payment locality that covers the ZIP.

On this page 11 sections
  1. Rate in Delaware
  2. What 50972 covers
  3. Compared with other areas
  4. Rate map
  5. How it’s calculated
  6. Payment rules
  7. Related codes
  8. Rate history
  9. Where it applies
  10. Billing questions
  11. Sources

What 50972 covers

The urologist passes an endoscope through an existing ureterostomy to examine the ureter and inserts a ureteral catheter. The service is used when access is through the stoma rather than the urethra, such as during evaluation or management of a patient with a surgically created ureterostomy. It is performed by a urologist in an operating room or another setting equipped for endoscopic urinary tract procedures.

Select this code when the documented procedure includes both ureteroscopy through the ureterostomy and catheter insertion; a diagnostic examination alone or an added biopsy or treatment belongs to a different code in the family. The operative report should identify the route, ureter examined, catheter placement, and any additional work. CMS assigns a 0-day global period, so same-day preoperative and postoperative care is included. When other procedures are performed in the same session, the highest-valued procedure is paid in full and the others are subject to the standard multiple procedure reduction. Bilateral reporting with modifier 50 is paid at 150%. Assistant-at-surgery payment requires documented medical necessity; co-surgeons and team surgery are not permitted.

This summary was written with AI assistance from CMS physician fee schedule data and checked against the CMS billing rules shown here. Rates on this page come directly from CMS files.

How Delaware compares for 50972

Across 109 of 109 payment localities, the facility rate for 50972 runs from $291.52 in Nebraska to $417.29 in Alaska. Delaware pays $311.75. The RVUs are the same everywhere; the geographic indexes change the dollars.

50972 in Delaware vs other payment areas
  1. Delaware · this page$311.75
  2. Los Angeles, CA · California$324.91+$13.16
  3. Washington, DC area · District of Columbia$340.57+$28.82
  4. Miami, FL · Florida$361.24+$49.49
  5. Chicago, IL · Illinois$353.81+$42.06
  6. Manhattan, NY · New York$355.58+$43.83
  7. Alaska · Alaska$417.29+$105.54

Other areas in Delaware first, then benchmark localities. Bars start at $0.

Every other payment area

50972 in every other Medicare payment locality
Payment localityOfficeFacility
AlabamaAlabama—$294.05
ArkansasArkansas—$291.59
ArizonaArizona—$308.22
Bakersfield, CACalifornia—$313.07
Chico, CACalifornia—$310.50
El Centro, CACalifornia—$310.64
Fresno, CACalifornia—$310.50
Hanford, CACalifornia—$310.50

50972 rates by state

Office rate range in each state. Select a state to see its payment localities.

Explore a state

Local rates. Clear comparisons.

Hover or focus a tile to see its rate range. Select it to open the state’s fee schedule.

View every state and territory as a table
50972 office rate range by state
State / territoryOffice rate rangeLocalities
AKNo published base rate1
ALNo published base rate1
ARNo published base rate1
AZNo published base rate1
CANo published base rate29
CONo published base rate1
CTNo published base rate1
DCNo published base rate1
DENo published base rate1
FLNo published base rate3
GANo published base rate2
GUNo published base rate1
HINo published base rate1
IANo published base rate1
IDNo published base rate1
ILNo published base rate4
INNo published base rate1
KSNo published base rate1
KYNo published base rate1
LANo published base rate2
MANo published base rate2
MDNo published base rate3
MENo published base rate2
MINo published base rate2
MNNo published base rate1
MONo published base rate3
MSNo published base rate1
MTNo published base rate1
NCNo published base rate1
NDNo published base rate1
NENo published base rate1
NHNo published base rate1
NJNo published base rate2
NMNo published base rate1
NVNo published base rate1
NYNo published base rate5
OHNo published base rate1
OKNo published base rate1
ORNo published base rate2
PANo published base rate2
PRNo published base rate1
RINo published base rate1
SCNo published base rate1
SDNo published base rate1
TNNo published base rate1
TXNo published base rate8
UTNo published base rate1
VANo published base rate2
VINo published base rate1
VTNo published base rate1
WANo published base rate2
WINo published base rate1
WVNo published base rate1
WYNo published base rate1

See 50972 in every payment locality

How the 50972 rate is calculated

Each of 50972’s three RVUs is multiplied by a geographic index (GPCI) for the payment locality, added up, and multiplied by the conversion factor. Drag the indexes or enter a ZIP to see what moves the rate.

How the rate is built · 50972

RVUs × geographic indexes × conversion factor

Office or facility?

Work6.71

6.71 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI

Practice expense1.83

1.83 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI

Malpractice0.87

0.87 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI

Adjusted RVUs

9.4100

Conversion factor

$33.4009

Medicare rate

$314.30

Every GPCI starts at 1.000, the national rate. Enter a ZIP or drag a slider.

The exact Delaware inputs and CMS source lines

PPRRVU2026_Oct_nonQPP.csv

6,011

Code
50972
Physician work
6.71
Practice expense
1.83
Malpractice
0.87

GPCI2026.csv

40

Locality
Delaware
Physician work
1.005
Practice expense
0.988
Malpractice
0.899
Facility calculation for 50972 in Delaware
ComponentRVULocality factorAdjusted
Physician work6.71× 1.0056.7435
Practice expense1.83× 0.9881.8080
Malpractice0.87× 0.8990.7821
Total RVUs9.3337
Conversion factor× 33.4009

Facility rate, Delaware$311.75

Facility: (6.71 × 1.005 + 1.83 × 0.988 + 0.87 × 0.899) × $33.4009 = $311.75

Open 50972 in the RVU calculator

Payment rules and modifiers for 50972

The CMS indicators that decide how 50972 is paid alongside other services.

CMS payment indicators · 50972

Ureteroscopy, with catheter insertion

RuleCMS valueWhat it means
Global period000Same-day global: pre- and post-op care on the day of the procedure is included.
Multiple procedures2Standard reduction: highest-valued procedure at 100%, others at 50%.
Bilateral (modifier 50)1Bilateral with modifier 50 pays 150% of the fee schedule amount.
Assistant at surgery (80/81/82/AS)0Not paid without supporting documentation.
Co-surgeons (62)0Not permitted.
Team surgery (66)0Not permitted.
Professional/technical0Physician service: no professional/technical split.

What modifiers do to the payment

Modifier 50 · payment effect

With and without the modifier

50972 without 50 · national facility

$314.30

Ureteroscopy, with catheter insertion

50972-50 · Bilateral: 150%

$471.45

Both sides on one line with modifier 50 are paid at 150% of the fee schedule amount (subject to multiple-procedure rules with other procedures).

When to use modifier 50

How 50972 has changed in Delaware

50972 · Office / nonfacility

Rate unavailable

Effective 2026-10-01

A rate is unavailable in one of these releases, so a change cannot be calculated.

Base rate by release · bars start at $0 · select a bar to compare

One bar per available release, ordered by effective date. Missing rates remain gaps. These comparisons hold the code, setting and locality identifiers constant; they do not isolate which policy or input caused a change.

What changed, release by release
Rates in every CMS release
Effective fromOfficeFacilityCMS release
2026-10-01Not available in this setting$311.75RVU26D
2026-07-01Not available in this setting$311.75RVU26C
2026-04-01Not available in this setting$311.75RVU26B
2026-01-01Not available in this setting$311.75RVU26A
2025-10-01Not available in this setting$343.08RVU25D
2025-07-01Not available in this setting$343.08RVU25C
2025-04-01Not available in this setting$343.08RVU25B
2025-01-01Not available in this setting$343.08RVU25A
2024-10-01Not available in this setting$350.42RVU24D
2024-07-01Not available in this setting$350.42RVU24C
2024-04-01Not available in this setting$350.42RVU24B
2024-03-09Not available in this setting$350.42RVU24AR
2024-01-01Not available in this setting$344.70RVU24A
2023-10-01Not available in this setting$354.68RVU23D
2023-07-01Not available in this setting$354.68RVU23C
2023-04-01Not available in this setting$354.68RVU23B
2023-01-01Not available in this setting$354.68RVU23A
2022-10-01Not available in this setting$360.69RVU22D
2022-07-01Not available in this setting$360.69RVU22C
2022-04-01Not available in this setting$360.69RVU22B
2022-01-01Not available in this setting$360.69RVU22A
2021-10-01Not available in this setting$362.42RVU21D
2021-07-01Not available in this setting$362.42RVU21C
2021-04-01Not available in this setting$362.42RVU21B
2021-01-01Not available in this setting$362.42RVU21A
2020-10-01Not available in this setting$377.34RVU20D
2020-07-01Not available in this setting$377.34RVU20C
2020-04-01Not available in this setting$377.34RVU20B
2020-01-01Not available in this setting$377.34RVU20A
2019-10-01Not available in this setting$380.59RVU19D
2019-07-01Not available in this setting$380.59RVU19C
2019-04-01Not available in this setting$380.59RVU19B
2019-01-01Not available in this setting$380.59RVU19A
2018-10-01Not available in this setting$381.64RVU18D
2018-07-01Not available in this setting$381.64RVU18C
2018-04-01Not available in this setting$381.64RVU18B
2018-01-01Not available in this setting$381.64RVU18AR1
2017-10-01Not available in this setting$379.81RVU17D
2017-07-01Not available in this setting$379.81RVU17C
2017-04-01Not available in this setting$379.81RVU17B
2017-01-01Not available in this setting$379.81RVU17A
2016-10-01Not available in this setting$382.31RVU16D
2016-07-01Not available in this setting$382.31RVU16C
2016-04-01Not available in this setting$382.31RVU16B
2016-01-01Not available in this setting$382.31RVU16A
2015-10-01Not available in this setting$379.44RVU15D
2015-07-01Not available in this setting$379.44RVU15C
2015-04-01Not available in this setting$377.55RVU15B
2015-01-01Not available in this setting$377.55RVU15A
2014-10-01Not available in this setting$368.83RVU14D
2014-07-01Not available in this setting$368.83RVU14C
2014-04-01Not available in this setting$368.83RVU14B
2014-01-01Not available in this setting$368.83RVU14A
2013-10-01Not available in this setting$351.31RVU13D
2013-07-01Not available in this setting$351.31RVU13C
2013-04-01Not available in this setting$351.31RVU13B
2013-01-01Not available in this setting$351.31RVU13AR

Price 50972 for an earlier date of service

Where the Delaware rate applies

Delaware is a Medicare payment area, not a city. Our Census mapping connects it to 79 cities and communities in Delaware. Some span more than one payment area; confirm with the service ZIP.

  • Arden
  • Ardencroft
  • Ardentown
  • Bear
  • Bellefonte
  • Bethany Beach
  • Bethel
  • Blades

Browse all communities in Delaware

50972 billing questions

When should I choose 50972 instead of 50970?

Use 50972 when ureteroscopy through a ureterostomy includes insertion of a ureteral catheter. Use 50970 for the endoscopic service without catheter insertion.

Can a biopsy or ureteral treatment be included in 50972?

When the procedure includes biopsy or a separately defined therapeutic service, select the applicable code for that work rather than treating 50972 as a general ureteroscopy code. The operative report should make the work performed clear.

How is bilateral 50972 reported?

Report bilateral performance with modifier 50. CMS pays the bilateral procedure at 150%.

Does the 0-day global period include same-day care?

Yes. Same-day preoperative and postoperative care is included in the procedure's 0-day global period.

Can an assistant surgeon be paid for 50972?

Assistant-at-surgery payment is available only when medical necessity is documented. Co-surgeons and team surgery are not permitted.

Where these rates come from

FeeBase calculates base physician payments from CMS work, practice-expense and malpractice RVUs, adjusted by each locality’s geographic indexes and the conversion factor. Services without a published rate are labeled, never given a made-up amount. Amounts are Medicare allowed amounts before claim adjustments: not a patient’s bill or a commercial rate.

CMS RVU26D · effective Oct 1, 2026 through the day before Jan 1, 2027

Show the CMS file lines behind this rate
RVUs for 50972PPRRVU2026_Oct_nonQPP.csv, line 6,011 (RVU26D)
Geographic factors for DelawareGPCI2026.csv, line 40 (RVU26D)

Open CMS sourceHow we calculate rates

Did this answer your question about what 50972 pays in Delaware?

Tell us what you were actually trying to work out. We’ll answer you directly, or build the page that does.

Fee sheets · Coming soon

Put 50972 and the rest of your codes on one sheet

Your codes at your locality, with payer contracts beside Medicare.

Join the waitlist